Chapter 23...sounds good to me! Hahaha what a lame rhyme. But I stayed up late just to finish this - I may be a little slap happy. Again - I can't say it enough - all of the comments just have me completely overwhelmed. I'm so glad so many of you love my story!

"So…what are we doing, exactly?"

Hermione and Ron meandered through Diagon Alley, the first time either one of them had willingly put themselves in a situation where it was just the two of them since she left for New York. His hands were shoved into the pockets of his pants while she walked with arms against her chest, a decent amount of space between the two of them as they walked. "I have to find a present for Draco's birthday," Hermione reminded him for the second time that morning. "It's next week."

"Oh…right then," Ron replied. More awkward silence consumed them as Ron followed Hermione into Flourish and Botts. "You're gonna get him a book? That's awfully boring."

Hermione shot him a glare. "He likes books."

"Yeah, but for a gift? It's boring, 'Mione."

Rolling her eyes, she shifted her purse strap on her shoulder and stared. "Certainly you have a better suggestion then?"

Ron shifted back and forth on the heels of his feet, shrugging his shoulder. "Harry says they go to quidditch games – why not buy him tickets for the upcoming season for the Chudley Cannons…or something."

She dropped her shoulders and let out an exasperated sigh. "That's actually quite brilliant. Why didn't I think of that?" Hermione took another glance around the bookstore and realized that Ron, much to her general dismay, was right. "Since that problem is solved…we may as talk about how to fix yours."

Snorting, Ron followed her back out of the bookstore and towards the ice cream parlor. Hermione figured if she had any chance of getting anything out of Ron, it'd be easier done with sweets of some sort. Ice cream cones in hand, the two perched themselves on opposite ends of a small bench, Hermione's purse sitting between them as they watched the passersby. Tired of the silence, Hermione arched an eyebrow at Ron's direction, which he immediately picked up on with a sigh. "I've made a giant mess of things. Lavender's decided to go stay with her sister in Scotland. I haven't seen her in almost a month – though she's perfectly fine with sending me daily howlers for reasons I don't pretend to understand."

"Are you certain Lavender is pregnant?" Hermione cautiously asked. "I mean, I know I already asked – "

"She's pregnant – I went with her to the first appointment," Ron stated flatly. "But there's more to it…I just haven't told anyone yet. Well, Pansy knows I guess –"

Hermione took a lick of her ice cream. "You've talked to Pansy about this?"

"I was right pissed when I did," Ron said. "Everyone deserted us the night of the anniversary celebration." He wiped ice cream off of his face with the back of his hand, blushing as Hermione gave him a look while handing him a napkin. "Thanks," he mumbled. "We're friends, I guess you could say. I think she's finally over the fact that you and Malfoy are getting married."

"Are you?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"I suppose not."

Ron sighed. "Sorry. Pansy and I are just friends. We hang out every now and then, and sometimes we just get pissed and talk about anything. That's how she knows."

Hermione took a bite out of her ice cream cone. "Knows what?" she asked with a mouthful, a hand coving her mouth slightly so that she wasn't completely without manners.

"It might not be mine."

"What!" Hermione shrieked, causing a few people to stare as Ron's face turned beet red. "Sorry!" she hissed. "But what the bloody hell!"

"What the bloody hell is right," Ron muttered. "It's either mine or…Seamus Finnegan's." Stunned, Hermione didn't know what to say. Her appetite lost, she dumped the remainder of her ice cream cone in the trash receptacle. Clasping her hands tightly together, she looked at Ron, feeling completely sorry for the situation he was in. "Apparently," Ron continued, shifting uncomfortably in his spot on the bench. "Once we figured out when she got pregnant, it was the week we got together, so to speak, and she'd slept with Seamus before she broke things off with him…my mum is going to bloody murder me when she finds this all out."

Hermione gave him a reassuring pat on the arm. "Molly can't be upset because Lavender's a slag."

"But it'll all go back to what it always goes back to," Ron retorted with a sigh. "Had I not completely mucked everything to shit with you, I wouldn't be in this damn position."

"Oh," sighed Hermione. "Ron…"

"You don't have to bloody remind me about how it would've never worked," Ron bitterly said. "I'm aware."

She sighed again. "I don't know what to say."

"Say that you hope it's Seamus'," Ron said with a snort. "That way this nightmare can be over. That's what Pansy says, anyway."

Hermione clasped her hands together again. "I'm glad that you have Pansy to talk to about all of this."

With a quick shake of his head, Ron shrugged and sighed. "Whatever. We're just friends."

"So you've said."

Hermione and Ron's conversation bothered her throughout the remainder of the day. She'd been trying in recent months to give an honest attempt to repair their friendship, but his hot and cold attitude with her, always rolling back to the fact that they weren't together was getting old. However, she did take Ron's advice and after an ok from Ginny, got both Draco and Harry a pair of season tickets apiece to the upcoming Chudley Cannon's quidditch season, splitting the cost with Ginny and making it an early birthday present for Harry as well. Blaise was planning on relocating back to London permanently, so both Ginny and Hermione figured Draco, Harry, and Blaise could have their man time together at the games, maybe taking James along every now and then.

She attempted to purchase a risqué little number for Draco to unwrap off of her as another present, knowing his penchant for sex on holidays, but it was hard to purchase naughty knickers with Ron inside her head. She genuinely felt bad for the situation he was in, but what she could never figure out with him is if he really believed his mother. Hermione was more than aware about how Molly felt about her, and how she always assumed that Hermione would become a Weasley. But if New York didn't split them up, something else would have. Hermione was convinced of it. She was continuously evolving - she wasn't even the same person she was nearly a year ago, but so much of Ron was the same as it always had been. The eleven old version of her would always be somewhat sad that the two of them weren't together, but the current version of herself felt confident in her relationship with Draco, regardless of how quickly it all evolved.

Sighing, Hermione resolved herself back on her tasks for the day - which was finishing her shopping for Draco's gifts. She wanted his birthday to be special, as she was completely baffled at how he told her stories about how birthdays were celebrated in his house - his father labeling them as nothing more than another day with another year attached. Of course, his mother always had a trinket or two for him to open when his father was out of sight, but still - birthdays were always a big deal at her house growing up - and it was a tradition she wanted to continue with the two of them, and in the future, with their own family.

She browsed about the lingerie section of Twillfits, unimpressed with what she was finding. Circling the rack, she moved to the one next to it, her hands shuffling through the hangers.

"It was my experience that Draco didn't like all the bells and whistles…and believe me when I say there were numerous experiences, if you know what I mean."

Startled, Hermione turned and saw Pansy standing behind her, a smirk on her face. "Uh, yes, well, I mean, he seems to enjoy it now."

Scoffing, Pansy began to browse the lingerie Hermione just finished looking at, holding out a peach colored baby doll chemise. "It's not really your color," Pansy mused as she put it back.

"Really, Pansy?" Hermione said sarcastically.

"Just trying to help," Pansy replied, feigning innocence. "I didn't realize you were still so touchy. You should really learn how to relax. I can't imagine being uptight like that is any fun…in the bedroom, that is."

Hermione sighed. Blaise was right - Pansy was coming back around as her old self, and quite frankly - she'd rather Pansy disappeared. In the presence of Blaise, Pansy was polite as punch to Hermione. Alone was an entirely different story. "Can I help you?" Hermione finally asked.

"I'm assuming you're looking for something special for Draco's birthday," Pansy said, holding up a corset with matching knickers. "Cute…but I know how you feel about the color lavender."

"Do you have a point?" Hermione hastily asked.

Pansy hung the corset back up and stared at Hermione. "Not really. Blaise thought it might be nice if you and I could be friends. After all, you've managed to make him think you're the greatest thing since sliced bread, right along with Draco. Not that I care to understand."

"We don't have to be friends, Pansy," Hermione flatly replied. "In fact, I'm perfectly fine with not talking to you unless it's a necessity."

Pansy smirked. "I'm glad we're on the same page. Now…about a certain, red-headed Weasley…"

"Pansy - he's not in a place to be messed with," Hermione stated. "I know you know - he told me you did. If you are just messing with him and can't be his friend then -"

"I'm not sure you can truly lecture me on being a friend," Pansy cut her off. "He's told me more than just his baby momma drama. He told me you left him to go to America because you needed to go. Not that you took him into consideration. A bit selfish on your part, no?"

Hermione furrowed her eyebrows in confusion; slightly mortified that Ron had talked to Pansy about their conversation before she left for New York. "What!" she hissed. "This isn't - this is not a matter of your concern!"

"Calm down," Pansy patronized. "No need to pitch a nutty. People will stare. But might I say, you're a bit touchy about the subject. Maybe you still care for Ron Weasley a bit more than you let on. Maybe you still love him. Loving someone who doesn't love you back…we both might be able to relate to that, no?"

Shifting the strap of her purse high on her shoulder, she glared at Pansy before leaving the shop, refusing to dignify anything Pansy Parkinson had left to say with an answer. If her intention was to get under skin, Pansy could color herself successful. Hastily, she left Twillfits and disapparated out of the Diagon Alley and into her bedroom, tossing her purse onto the floor and shedding her blazer before crawling into bed, hugging the pillow Draco slept with. She felt like she was five again, retreating to her room - her sanctuary as her father always called it. Kicking her black flats off, she sighed, inhaling Draco's sent as she began to calm down. She wished she hadn't let Pansy get under her skin. It was just back at school - somehow she always knew which buttons of Hermione's to press.

Upstairs, Draco worked on a few cases in his study, or, was working, until he heard the apparation pop beneath him. Curious, considering he wasn't expecting Hermione back for a few hours, he made his way down to the second floor and saw their bedroom door open. Peeking a head in, he saw Hermione's back to him, curled up towards his side on top of the bedspread. Quietly, he walked towards her, carefully curling up behind her as he wrapped an arm around her middle. "Hi," he whispered in her ear, kissing her neck.

"Hi," she mumbled, lacing her fingers with his as her hand clasped on top of his around her waist.

He could sense that something wasn't right. "What's wrong?"

"Pansy fucking Parkinson," Hermione groused. "I honestly don't understand how you could befriend someone so damn infuriating."

Draco chuckled, hugging her tight. "She's an acquired taste."

"It's not funny," huffed Hermione. "She completely ambushed me today, and I was already irritated from a conversation I had with Ronald and -"

"Wait - what happened with Weasley?"

She let go of his hand and rolled over so she could face Draco. "Apparently there's a decent chance that Lavender is actually pregnant with Seamus Finnegan's baby instead of his."

He scrunched his face. "You mean that freckle faced git who used to blow shit up all time?"

"That would be him," Hermione replied. "But that's not the point. I had a terrible conversation with Ron, or, I guess it wasn't completely terrible but I still felt guilty even though I had no reason to feel guilty and then I was shopping for some birthday lingerie and -"

"Is it here?" Draco asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Focus Draco!" Hermione exclaimed. "That's where I ran into Pansy who was completely rude to me and on top of that - told me that you really aren't into the whole lingerie thing which then made me think of the two of you together and that alone was enough to piss me off without throwing Ron on top of it -"

"Wait - why is Ron on top of Pansy and I?"

Exhaling with frustration, she crossed her arms against her chest and glared. "That's not what I meant and you know it, Draco!"

"But it got you to stop your rambling," Draco countered. He rested a hand on her hip, giving it a squeeze. "I'll have Blaise talk to Pansy about shutting her gigantic yap."

"You won't do it?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, I could do it," Draco stated. "I just don't think I can do it without going completely mental. Blaise is a bit more diplomatic with her than I could ever be - then and now."

Hermione huffed. "I don't like her."

"You don't have to," Draco reassured her. "But wasn't it you who wanted to picture the idea of her and the Weasel together?"

"I still don't think it's a bad idea - I just don't like her," Hermione retorted. "And if she and Ron…dare I say evolve past friendship, I'll have to be around her and I just - I just know that every time we're alone she's going to say something about you, and what you like, or apparently don't like…"

He watched her roll onto her back, staring up at the ceiling as she straightened out nonexistent wrinkles in her navy blue skirt. Insecurity was something he rarely saw out of Hermione. He'd seen fury, blind rage, and overwhelming babbling, but rarely did he see her show anything regarding her insecurities. According to Harry she had a barrel of them. He rubbed a hand against the taut skin of her stomach as he slipped it underneath her camisole. "You know what I like," he said softly, nuzzling his nose against her neck.

She looked away, blinking tears back. Hermione felt ridiculous for getting this emotional over something this trivial as she smeared a traitorous tear away with her thumb. It was the first time in their relationship where she felt threatened in a sense. Not that she had any realistic reason to be threatened, but Pansy and Draco's relationship wasn't like her and Ron. Hermione and Ron bickered, fought, and avoided their feelings. When they finally got it together, it was as if it was over as soon as it began. Draco and Pansy were a couple for a considerable amount of time. They were intimate for a considerable amount of time.

Facing him, she smiled weakly. "She just got under my skin."

"I can see that," he said, his thumb grazing lightly against her stomach.

Yawning, she looked over at the clock, sighing as she saw it was barely past two in the afternoon. "Can we just lay here for a little while?"

He nodded, brushing a hand through her hair. "Of course we can."

She stayed on her back as Draco curled up next to her as he continued to play with her hair, just as she did countless times to him. Resting her eyes shut, she felt herself relax a bit more as Draco lightly kissed her temple. "She still loves you," said Hermione, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Ron's still in love with you," Draco replied.

"Ron loves the idea of me," Hermione gently corrected, her eyes still closed. "Because when he finally had me, he didn't keep me for long. You and Pansy, on the other hand, had an actual relationship."

Draco sighed. "Pansy loves the idea of who I used to be. She wouldn't want me the way I am now."

"She certainly doesn't want me to want you the way you are."

"Granger - look at me."

Hermione did as she was told, looking directly at Draco. "There are things in life that are consistent - like Christmas, birthdays, your uncanny ability to be right, and the fact that Pansy is a lunatic. She was crazy then and she's bloody crazy now. If anything, you should take comfort in the fact that she'll never change. She's predictable."

He had a point, though Hermione wasn't in the mood to admit it. Her fingers played with the hem of her tank top as Draco's hand continued to soothingly caress her skin underneath. "I really don't like her."

"There isn't a rule that says you have to," was his gentle reply.

"But she's your friend."

"Ron's your friend and I don't necessarily like him. I just tolerate him – for both you and Ginny."

Hermione sighed. "I don't know if I could ever tolerate Pansy."

"She keeps this up and I won't be tolerating her either." Draco looked at Hermione so she could see how serious he was. He kissed her lightly on the lips. "I love you. I want to marry you. I want to have little know it all babies with you."

Hermione gave him a look. "Know it all babies?"

"Between the two of us, our future children are genetically predispositioned to be brilliant," he replied, "and probably without the proper restraint mechanisms to keep them from showing their brilliance off to others."

Snorting, Hermione rolled her eyes. "You make our future children sound horrible."

"Not horrible – brilliant," Draco corrected as he kissed her again.

Hermione was silent again, exhaling small sighs as she looked away from Draco. She knew the moment she said what she wanted to say there was a fifty-fifty chance she'd regret it, but if Hermione didn't ask, Pansy's voice would just echo in her head until she did so. "Do you…I mean, when we…do you think that I'm uptight when we're…you know, havingsex?"

He was completely taken aback by her question. "What? Why would you ask that? Of course I don't think that."

Still looking away, Hermione sniffled. "It's ok if you do. I mean, I know how I am, always high strung and all. I don't even know if I've ever asked you if you enjoy being intimate with me –"

Draco rolled her back over to face him, staring in disbelief. "I don't like it – I love it. Being with you – I cannot even properly describe it. You turn me on without even trying most times, and sometimes you have pretty inconvenient timing, Granger." He plucked the tip of her nose for good measure, eliciting a small smile as he rolled on top of her. Straddling her waist as he hovered over her, his forearms pressed into the bed, Draco rest his forehead lightly against hers. Hermione could see the outline of his growing erection pressing against the fabric of his jeans as he began to trail kisses down the side of her face. "I love how you let out this little gasp," he whispered in her ear, "the first time I push into you…as if you're instantly reminded of how amazing it feels."

Her hands began to slowly unbuckle his belt as she stared directly into his eyes while he continued to speak. "I love how you bite your lips together when you try to figure something out," he said through kisses down her jaw. "I feel myself aroused when I see you pass through the Ministry halls but you don't see me," he confessed as he peeled away her tank top. "Always with a determined look on your face…which I find incredibly sexy." Still straddling her, he pulled his polo shirt up over his head and tossed it to the floor in the same direction that he threw her tank top before cowering back over her. "Might I say that I'm also completely excited about you wearing special birthday knickers," he said with a smirk, pulling off her skirt. "And will be terribly disappointed if I don't get them."

Hermione couldn't restrain her scoff. "Pansy says you don't like lingerie."

Draco rolled his eyes as he climbed off of Hermione. Shimming out of his pants and boxers, he pulled back the covers on their bed and Hermione lifted her hips as the bedspread slipped out from underneath her, discarding her knickers onto the floor. "New rule," Draco announced, sliding into bed as he pulled Hermione on top of him so that she was straddling his hips. His erection twitched as he felt her wet and ready. "We don't say the P word or the R word in this bedroom."

Giggling, Hermione nodded. "No more P word and no more R word in the bedroom."

He palmed her breasts in her hand as she leaned forward, capturing his lips in a deep and sensual kiss. This was why she fell in love with him. He didn't make her feel ridiculous despite how out of sorts her emotions may be. He didn't make her feel ignorant when she'd confess to him what was at the core of what was making her feel inadequate, indecisive, or just plain upset at times. She could tell by the way he wrapped his arms around her, pressing his hands into her back, that he could feel their kiss all the way through his toes, just as she could. Hermione didn't know what passion was until she met Draco – had no idea how an action as simple as kissing could contain such a sensual feeling.

Breaking apart, Hermione attempted to regain control of her breathing as she tried to inch her way down his body. Instead, his hands grabbed her arms and pulled her back up. "Just sit up," he hoarsely spoke.

"But I was going to…"

He cut her off with a kiss as she adjusted her hips, sitting up slightly before breaking away from her lips. "I'm going to show you," he said, sliding into her as her eyes fluttered. "Just how much I love making love to you." She gasped and he grinned, pushing himself all way into her as he felt her clench. "This is about you."

"You…you're always making it…about me," she managed to speak as he held her in place as he did all of the work.

"That's how I want it to be," Draco declared, slowly moving his hips up and down as he pumped himself into her. His relationship with Hermione was different from his other relationships. Sex with Pansy was nothing more than a way to avoid thinking. He lost his virginity at the embarrassing age of fifteen and truth be told – Pansy was into it a whole lot more than he was. But he was a teenager with hormones – and it was easy to let his hormones do the thinking for him. Sure, he sought comfort from when things turned unbearable during sixth year, but that's what he and Pansy were good at – using each other. The couple of girls he dated while at university – sex was just something he knew you were supposed to do in an 'adult' relationship. Was it better than awkward teenage sex? Certainly. But it wasn't anything like he was doing right now as he rolled Hermione over so that she was on her back, never pulling out of her.

The amount of raw emotion that Draco felt when he was intimate with Hermione was enough to push him to the brink of insanity. Both of them, incredibly guarded by nature, bared their physical and sometimes emotional scars to one another through each kiss, each touch, and each spoken word. Speeding up his hips, he leaned towards her ear, placing his lips against her sensitive skin. "I love you. I want to marry you," he repeated huskily between kisses.

Hermione moaned from the base of her stomach, feeling herself tighten around him as he quickened his movements. "I love you," she managed to gasp.

He grabbed her hips, feeling himself on the edge as he pushed himself as far as he could inside of her, her hips bucking with each thrust. Hermione reached down to touch herself, knowing that the sight alone would be enough for him to come. Rubbing a finger between her folds, she sharply inhaled, holding her breath as she felt herself come, the release radiating throughout her body. Draco let out an unrestrained groan, his hips repelling against her as he came, collapsing on top of her. He felt a tear touch his face as he rested his cheek against hers. Propping himself up a bit, he brushed a hand over her hair. "You can't cry after something that fantastic," he lightly teased, kissing the tear away.

She let out a laugh, blinking the rest away. "They're happy tears, I promise." Sighing with content, she dragged a hand against his cheek. "It scares me sometimes…how much I love you, how fast I fell for you. It was if I felt threatened today at the slightest possibility it could disappear."

Draco pulled out of her and Hermione did a quick wandless cleaning spell as he found the covers and pulled the bedding up over top of them. Snuggling Hermione close to him, he looked down at her as she looked up at him. "This is never disappearing," he promised. "I love you quite possibly more than I've ever loved anything, and when I about it long enough, it terrifies the hell out of me."

Hermione rested her head on his chest, taking in the heat from their skin-to-skin contact as Draco pulled the covers up so that everything below her neck was submerged in warmth. "Well, you should stop thinking about it before it terrifies you," she teased.

Yawning, Draco hugged her closer. "That's usually my goal."

"I'm going to take a nap," she murmured, holding onto Draco as she nestled her limbs into a more comfortable position.

"Naked napping…my new favorite hobby," he teased, his eyes closing as his head nestled into the pillows behind him.

"Draco?"

"Yes, dear?"

"Go to sleep," she instructed.

Chuckling silently, he smirked as his eyes closed a final time. "Of course, dear."

"Damn." Hermione peered into the cake batter bowl, making a face at the eggshells that fell into the mix. "Accio, eggshells," she muttered with her wand as the little pieces pulled themselves out of the batter. "Much better."

She was in Ginny's kitchen, preparing a birthday cake for Draco while Ginny flooed the kids over to the Burrow to visit with Victorie. James was less than thrilled at the idea of not being able to help get the party ready, but conceded when Ginny promised that they wouldn't ice the cake or blow up balloons until she came to retrieve them.

"I swear that child might be the death of me!" Ginny exclaimed as she appeared back in the kitchen. "I'm telling you, I love that child more than life but I nearly squeezed it out of him before I left."

Hermione laughed. James had been on a roll as of late with bartering for what he wanted. Harry was convinced that part of the problem was that he was consistently around adults and the biggest pain in James' life was that he wasn't an adult too. He was already devastated earlier that morning when George, Harry, Draco, and Blaise left to play golf and he had to stay behind.

"It's hard being four going on fourteen," Hermione quipped.

"If he makes it to fourteen, it will be a miracle," Ginny retorted.

Whipping up the rest of the cake batter, Ginny greased a pan and preheated the oven so it was ready to bake. "Have you talked to Ron lately?"

"Not since the other day."

Ginny nodded. "Lavender contacted him – finally. Apparently Seamus said he wasn't going to wait four more months to see if the baby was his so he's taking her to a muggle doctor. Did you know they could do those kinds of tests?"

Nodding, Hermione folded the chocolate cake batter in the bowl with the spatula. "They can, but they're slightly risky."

Ginny shuddered. "I can't even imagine finding myself in that situation."

"That's because you never would be."

"Of course. I guess Ron will know if he dodged a bullet or not sometime next week."

Hermione looked up at Ginny. "What are you hoping for?"

"That he dodges a bullet," Ginny bluntly replied. "Horrible, I know, but Ron isn't ready for the responsibility – regardless of how much he thinks he can try to be. Maturity wise – he just isn't there."

"I agree."

Scraping the sides of the bowl, Hermione meticulously made sure the batter was completely mixed together before pouring it into the glass cake pan. She remembered when they first reacquainted with each other, and he confessed that he'd never had a birthday cake before, so Hermione wanted it to be perfect. Once the batter settled evenly, Ginny popped the cake into the oven, set her timer, and the two retreated to the living room.

"I may have had a meltdown over Pansy the other day," Hermione confessed.

"I heard," Ginny replied, sitting opposite Hermione on the couch. "Harry told me. Draco was asking him what he should do about it."

"And…"

"Harry told Draco that he better find a way to get Pansy to shut her trap because eventually you're just going to hex her – and if you don't, I certainly fucking will."

"Ginny!"

"She's a twit, 'Mione," Ginny spat. "A ridiculous, childish twit. I don't care if she and Ron are friends, or whatever it is they are because knowing Pansy, I don't believe they haven't done anything for a bloody second. She pulls that shit with you again and you don't find it in you to put her in her place don't worry – I'm all over it."

That was the best part about Ginny as a best friend – Hermione didn't handle girls well when it came to confrontation. She never related to girls growing up, before Hogwarts and during Hogwarts. Growing up with seven brothers, Ginny built a low tolerance for nonsense at an early age, and she was often sticking up for Hermione in the girls' dormitory when she could see they hit a nerve with her friend.

"You honestly shouldn't worry about Pansy," Ginny reassured Hermione. "I've seen the way Draco looks at you."

She felt herself blush, pursing her lips together as she tucked her legs underneath her. "I know…and he was so sweet to me when I was telling him about what happened. It almost makes everything else seem like a lifetime ago."

"Do you still think about him that way?" Ginny asked. "The way Draco was while we were at school?"

Hermione shook her head no. "If I do, it's during moments where it just overwhelms me at the man he's become. It's never in fear that he'd go back to being that way."

"Good," Ginny said. "I thought I was going to shake you senseless." Hermione watched as she eyed a little silver bag over in the corner of the room by her purse. "Is that is birthday 'surprise'?"

Hermione accio'd the bag with a flick of her wand; catching it so she could pull out the little number she planned on changing into later to wear under her clothes. "He likes to unwrap me," Hermione said, blushing as she pulled out the texturized, black and white lace corset with a pair of sheer, black lace knickers.

Ginny laughed, holding up the skimpy knickers. "Hermione - these are crotchless!"

"The lady at the store said it would be a big hit," she replied, her cheeks a warm shade of crimson.

"I don't even understand how you haven't been impregnated yet," Ginny teased as she admired the corset. "If I ever wore something like this…"

"I take a potion daily, Ginny - despite your desire for me to be knocked up as soon as possible."

"I'm just saying - if I were on a potion, wearing this…"

"You don't do lingerie?"

"We have two kids - he's already purchased the merchandise so to speak - but every now and then I'll surprise him. When you have a baby in the house, you quickly learn that speed is the key because it's like…they know when the most inopportune moment is to want something, and when they do, the mood is gone," Ginny said with a snap of her fingers. "Enjoy it while you can."

"Fucking whore!" Blaise screeched, chucking his club several yards down the fairway as the golf ball took a huge slice in the air, landing in the woods. He couldn't hit a straight ball to save his life today. "I hate this fucking game. Why do we play this game?"

Draco arched an eyebrow as he teed up his ball. "It was your idea."

"Right," Blaise remembered. "Fucking game."

Blaise went over to stand near the golf carts with Harry and George, the four enjoying the mild spring day. As Draco got ready to swing, he suddenly stopped and turned around, pointing his 3 wood at George. "Bloody blow this ball out of the sky and I will bludgeon you to death with this club."

George smirked. "I'm telling you, I don't know what you're talking about."

"Four holes. Four balls spontaneously combusting mid air. You with a shit eating grin the past four holes. You know exactly what I'm talking about."

George's face was as straight as can be while Blaise and Harry snickered. Had it been anyone else's ball blown out of the sky, Draco would have been impressed with George's impeccable aim. But it was his ball, and every good drive Draco had, George would sabotage it. "I'm not even holding my wand," George promised.

Draco got himself settled again, lining up his club to the ball before swinging his arms back and giving the ball a good crack as it sailed perfectly down the fairway. It landed right in the middle of the fairway, and if he kept it up, he'd have a shot at a birdie. Golf was something he picked up in college and got Harry and George into. Blaise learned to play in Italy as a way to pick up women because in his words - there were lonely women at the country club that needed a bit of black magic.

"Is Parkinson coming tonight?" George asked, taking his spot at the tee. "If so, will there a cage fight?"

Blaise nodded. "A Granger-Parkinson cage fight? I'd pay to see that."

"Sorry to disappoint, but no - she and Ron are going to dinner or something. I don't know," Harry said, jotting down the score on the card before shoving it back into his pants pocket. "I told Ron to do me a favor and occupy her, which he didn't seem all that put out to do."

"Because she's probably putting out," Blaise said.

"I think I just vomited in my mouth a little," Draco stated.

George made a face. "I agree with Draco. Thanks for the image, Zabini…dick."

Laughing, Blaise shoved his club into his bag. "Look - she doesn't live with you - and as someone who lives with her at the moment, I'm telling you she's in a better mood when she's getting some."

"Yeah, why is she living with you?" Draco asked.

"Because I feel bad for her," Blaise replied. "Her mum's a loon, she's lonely, and I'm probably her only friend. I did tell her to cool her shit with Granger though. She knows I won't tolerate it.

Draco nodded. "Thanks − I appreciate it."

"Don't thank me yet," Blaise said. "Let's just see if talking to her worked."

George's ball landed just short of Draco's on the fairway. "Ron will eventually stick up for Hermione, especially if Pansy and him become more than whatever it is that they are if for no other reason than Mum forcing him to. Speaking ill of Hermione Granger in front of my mother could very well be a death sentence."

Harry wasn't golfing, as his arm was still tender from the accident, so he was keeping score and carting the birthday boy around while Blaise and George shared the other cart. Driving down the path, the boys veered over towards the woods to see if they could find Blaise's ball. Parking the carts, the boys spread out in the wooded area to look.

"You have horrible aim," Harry teased as they looked.

"Fuck off, Potter," Blaise groused to the others amusement.

Draco used his club to push through the weeds and leaves on the ground as he searched.

"Here it is," George announced, on the edge of the woods where the rough met the fairway. "Could've been worse."

Blaise grumbled, grabbing an iron out of his bag. George walked over and stood with Harry and Draco, a small smirk creeping across his face. They stood their, watching as Blaise hit the ball, towards the fairway, only to have it hook yet again, mid air, landing even further into the wooded patch near the green. "Mother fucking piece of shit!" Blaise bellowed. He stormed over to the cart and ripped another ball out of his bag and dropped it back on the ground in roughly the same spot. Winding up, he hit it again, only to watch a repeat of his earlier shot. "Son of a mother fucking - " he stopped noticing that George was unable laying down across the golf cart seats, laughing so hard that nothing was coming out of his mouth while Draco and Harry did their best to stifle their laughs. "What's so fucking funny?"

"Try it again," George squeaked out, smacking the side of the cart as he laughed.

Irritated, Blaise marched back to the cart and grabbed a ball, only this time he took a good look at it. "Wait - these aren't my balls. These aren't my balls! My balls are monogramed! Did you touch my balls!"

Harry and Draco were hardly keeping it together. "Monogramed balls?" George asked, trying to keep it together. "That must've hurt."

Blaise missed the innuendo all together, causing Harry and Draco to bust out laughing. "Weasley did you charm my balls? You charmed my balls, didn't you fucking prick!"

George continued to laugh. "I wouldn't dare charm your balls…just ask my girlfriend."

Draco howled and Harry slapped his hands over his face as they dissolved into immature laughter. "I can't believe you charmed my balls you dick!" Blaise screeched.

Pulling himself somewhat together, Draco looked at Blaise. "If you don't stop yelling 'charmed my balls,' we're going to have a serious problem."

Blaise flared his nostrils. Giving George a good shove in the chest, he rooted around in his bag for another set of golf balls he was sure George hadn't messed with, breaking open the new box before walking back out to his original spot. Sure enough, as he hit the ball, it went exactly where he wanted it to go. "If I wasn't so fucking scared of your sister," he told George as he climbed into the golf cart, "I would beat the hell out of you."

"She's handy like that," George replied with a smirk.

Draco sat at the dining room table in his house on the edge of his seat, James standing behind him on the chair with his small hands covering his eyes. Harry, holding Albus, Ginny, Blaise, George, and Narcissa stood around the table while Hermione brought the cake into the room with twenty-four candles burning.

"Ready?" James asked excitedly.

"Ready!" Draco exclaimed, mimicking his enthusiasm.

James let go of his eyes and yelled, "Surprise!"

Draco opened his eyes and looked at the large chocolate cake decorated with gumdrops, jelly beans, marshmallows, and sprinkles embedded in the chocolate frosting. He turned and looked at James. "Did you decorate this?"

"How could you tell?" James gasped.

"Uh…because it's perfect!" Draco replied.

Everyone laughed as James beamed at Draco's praise "It is quite the festive cake, James," Narcissa said, though everyone could see she was a bit confused at the insane amount of sugar amid the glow of the candles. She took a picture of the cake, and of James and Draco as they cheesed for the camera.

James leaned onto Draco's back, resting his chin on his shoulder. "You have to make a wish now, Uncle Draco."

"A wish, eh?" Draco asked, winking at Ginny as the adults stood around the table.

"Yes. You close your eyes, you make a wish, and then you blowed the candles out, and your wish is supposed to come true," James explained. "But you can't tell anyone your wish. It's a secret."

"What if it doesn't come true?" George asked James. "Then he'll get his hopes up for nothing."

James scowled at his Uncle George. "Birthday wishes always come true, Uncle George. I wished for a training broom and I heard Mum say that gnomes would fly before that happened and then I had my birthday and I wished super hard for a training broom and you know what I gots? A training broom."

"Or it could be that your mum's a sucker," Ginny muttered, making the adults snicker.

"Do you have your wish?" James asked, clearly eager to eat cake.

Scanning the room at the grins of his friends - his family, he locked eyes with Hermione, who wiggled her eyebrows. "What if I already have everything I could possibly want? Then what?"

James sighed. "You have to think of something Uncle Draco."

Humoring James, Draco thought about it for a second. "Ok," he said, smirking at Hermione. "I have my wish. But there's lots of candles here - I might not be able to blow them all out."

"I'll help," James replied, very seriously.

"Ok," Hermione said. "Are you two ready?"

"Because the wax is meting everywhere," Blaise pointed out. Narcissa smacked him in the arm with her hand. "Mrs. Malfoy that hurt!"

Narcissa glared at him. "Quit whining."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Draco and James counted to three before they blew out all of the candles to great applause. Hermione sliced the cake and George served it to everyone as they sat down around the table. James opted to sit right next to Draco, digging in eagerly to the chocolate cake as his mother placed it in front of him. Hermione sat down on the other side of Draco, smiling as he reached for her hand, giving it a squeeze. "You know," Draco said after swallowing a mouthful of cake. "I don't think in the entire time I've owned this house that I've ever used this dining room."

"First time for everything," Harry said, bouncing Albus on his knee. He dipped his pinky into some of the icing and rubbed a little bit of it on Albus' lips for him to lick off.

"Really, Harry?" Ginny asked. "Icing to a baby?"

"I did to James all the time," Harry replied. "It didn't kill him."

"Though it explains the sugar obsession," Ginny remarked, eyeing her four-year-old with icing smeared on his cheek.

"Last I checked, that child is half Weasley," Harry retorted. He leaned in and kissed her cheek while Ginny pretended to be uninterested, much to everyone's amusement. She turned and looked at her husband. "Admit it," he said. "You're crazy about me."

"Crazy's a good word for it," she said with a peck on the lips.

Draco was ecstatic to receive his Cannons tickets, as was Harry when he realized he had a set as well. His mother purchased him a new trench coat that he was most excited about as he had his other one for quite sometime. Once the children were passed out later that evening, Draco and Harry had everyone in stitches as they recounted their afternoon golfing, much to Blaise's general dismay. Even Narcissa - who rarely let out more than a few laughs at a time - had tears in her eyes as Draco and Harry mimicked Blaise.

"I'm going to get you back, Wesley," Blaise promised. "Just you wait."

"I always welcome a challenge," George said with a smirk.

James managed to fall asleep, snuggling up against Narcissa who seemed to be perfectly content with the small child using her lap as a pillow. Hermione watched, her head resting on Draco's shoulder, as Narcissa lightly played with James' unruly hair. Her arm linked with Draco, she smiled as he gave her a sweet look. "Not a bad birthday?"

He grinned. "That all depends on what I get to unwrap later," he whispered in her ear.

She nudged him as Ginny walked over to collect James from Narcissa. "We better get these guys in bed," Ginny said.

Harry stood up, carefully handing Ginny the baby. "I'll get James. He's a dead weight asleep."

"But your arm…"

"Ginny. Take the baby," Harry ordered.

She did as her husband instructed, cuddling her sleeping baby close as Harry managed to collect James in his arms, hanging like a rag doll as he softly snored. "He really is a sweet boy," Narcissa said to Harry.

Harry grinned. "He is." He leaned down and politely kissed Narcissa's cheek. "It was good seeing you again, Mrs. Malfoy."

"You as well, Mr. Potter." Narcissa bid good night to Ginny, George, and Blaise before giving her son a hug and a kiss goodbye. "Happy Birthday, Draco. Mother loves you."

He grinned. "Thank you, Mother. I love you too."

Narcissa turned to Hermione and gave her a hug. "Let's meet for tea next week, ok dear?"

"Certainly," Hermione agreed. She saw Blaise next, and embraced him in a warm hug. "Thank you for coming," she said, kissing his cheek.

He winked at her. "Only to see you."

"Of course," Hermione said, earning a playful stare from Draco.

"Malfoy - golf next week sans the ginger?"

"Zabini - your words wound me!" George mock cried, stepping between Blaise and Hermione to kiss her cheek goodbye. "Later, Granger."

"Goodbye, George."

"Thanks for what has got be the funniest thing I ever witnessed," Draco said, shaking George's hand.

"I am to please," George replied.

As everyone flooed and disapperated home, Draco and Hermione looked around at all the birthday shrapnel spread about, both of them silently grateful for the fact that Jori would have the place looking brand new by morning. She was wearing a dark green t-shirt dress and Draco had been dying to see what was underneath since he came home from golfing. In a quick scoop, he swept Hermione up in his arms as she let out a yelp.

"Draco!" she exclaimed. "What are you doing?"

He smirked. "Collecting my birthday prize."

Laughing, she held on as he carried her up the stairs. "Quidditch tickets weren't enough?"

"Don't distract me, Granger," Draco said as he laid her down on the bed. "I've been looking forward to this all week."

By the look on his face as she let him peel her dress away, she knew putting in vacation requests for the two of them for tomorrow was definitely one of her better forethoughts.

"Looks like I got my wish."

Smirking, Hermione shot him a wink. "Good thing you had help blowing out all those candles."